Judith Perryman of Potsdam graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Adams State College, Alamosa, Colo., spring 2010 commencement on Saturday, May 15, in Plachy Hall. Perryman received a bachelor of arts/sociology/social welfare.

Adams State awarded 409 degrees this spring.

The growth of its Graduate School prompted Adams State to hold two commencement ceremonies for the first time.

The undergraduate commencement address was given by Gilbert Romero, who served in the Colorado House of Representatives from 1984-1998. In 1999, he started the government affairs and lobbying firm Capitol Success Group, of which he is a principal/attorney. He borrowed his speech title from a song by Kenny Chesney, Don't blink, a hundred years goes faster than you think.

Under each graduate's chair, Romero had placed a gift containing two items: a copy of Curious George and a clock.

Dr. Susan Belanger, at ethics liaison at the Center for Clinical Bioethics at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., gave the graduate commencement address. She talked to the master's degree recipients about four qualities she hoped they would cultivate as ethical professionals: leadership, expertise, teaching, and advocacy.